Making his final appeals to voters before the critical Super Tuesday primaries, Ted Cruz said Monday that Donald Trump funded a group of senators who pushed a 2013 immigration plan that would have provided a path to citizenship for people in the country illegally.

During a rally at Gilley's in Dallas, Cruz said Trump gave campaign contributions to five members of the so-called Gang of Eight senators who proposed an immigration proposal that ultimately failed.

He said Trump spent "four decades funding open borders."

"You don't get to spend four decades funding open border Democrats and then suddenly, when you run for president, discover that you want to secure the border," Cruz said.

Cruz also blasted Trump for hiring immigrants illegally to build Trump Tower in New York, as well as a news facility underway in Washington.

Trump has denied hiring such workers for his Washington project. He said in the 1980s he hired a contractor to demolish buildings on what's now Trump Tower, and that company may have hired Polish workers in the country illegally.

"You don't get to abuse and take advantage of American workers and suddenly style yourself a champion for American workers," Cruz said.

In contrast, Cruz said that he would protect religious freedom and Second Amendment rights and develop a strong military.

And he blasted Trump for saying he would take a neutral position when negotiating a Middle East peace agreement with the Palestinians.

"If I am president, America will stand, unapologetic, with the nation of Israel," Cruz told more than 1,000 people at the event.

Cruz has been desperately trying to blunt Trump's momentum before 11 states, including Texas, hold primary elections on Tuesday.

He has cast Trump as a pseudo conservative who has supported Democrats and liberal causes and cannot be trusted.

"I will never compromise away your religious liberty and I will never compromise your Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms," Cruz said.

The senator from Texas asked his home state voters to help him at the ballot box.

"Super Tuesday is tomorrow," Cruz said. "It is the most important day in the primary season. We are going to have a good Super Tuesday."

Cruz brought some Lone Star heavy hitters with him, including the last two Texas governors.

"We don't need another president who is going to ignore the United States Constitution," Gov. Greg Abbott said. "We need a president who is going to uphold the Constitution. We need Ted Cruz as president."

Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry also warmed up the crowd.

"Donald Trump has no idea what he does not know," Perry said. "You name the issue, he's been on both sides of it."

Perry said Trump didn't understand sacrifice and service, mocking him for having "bone spurs" and not serving in the military.

The former presidential contender said Cruz was the best choice for president.

"I don't have to worry about where Ted Cruz stands on the Second Amendment," he said. "Ted Cruz wants to go to Washington to work for you, not the other way around."

Perry urged Texans to turn out for Cruz.

"Tomorrow you have the opportunity to get America back on track again," he said.

State Sens. Konni Burton of Colleyville and Don Huffines of Dallas were also in the house.

"I know firsthand what it's like to stand up for liberty," Huffines said. "Cruz has stood up for the Constitution and for liberty."

Rep. Louis Gohmert, R-Tyler, also attended.

"Ted Cruz never did one thing that was inconsistent with our strategy to stop amnesty," Gohmert said, referring to illegal immigration. He added that U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio supported amnesty. "If the United States has a future, it will be with Ted Cruz."

Supporters are hopeful Cruz will win Texas and do well in the 10 other states holding contests tomorrow.

"He got elected to the Senate as a constitutional conservative and he made good on his campaign promises," said Trevor Bundy, a computer analyst who made the trip from Denton. "That matters to me."

Teri Brown-Hudson, an office manager from Bedford, agreed.

"He stands for the people, not the Washington establishment," she said. "I hope he does well tomorrow. I know he will win Texas."

Cruz has to win big in Texas and in several other Southern states to keep pace with the GOP presidential front-runner, Donald Trump.

It won't be easy. Polls show Trump leads in most of the states holding elections Tuesday.